APPLE VALLEY — His Memorial Day launch at Lake Dolores was scrubbed, but “Mad” Mike Hughes says he and his homemade X-2 Rocket are ready for another lift-off date.

Hughes said he’ll try to break his recent launch record in his $250,000, 14 1⁄2-foot steam-powered rocket on June 28 from an undisclosed location in Winkleman, Arizona.

In February, Hughes strapped himself into his rocket as a large ramp guided the rocket 400 feet into the sky. The rocket traveled a distance of 1,374 feet before landing about a quarter-mile away.

The Apple Valley rocketman said his Arizona jump was “a record for the longest distance jumped from any kind of ramp.”

“When Lake Dolores went bust, I just had to get this rocket back up in the air again,” said Hughes, a 57-year-old dare-devil who jumped 103 feet in a stretch limo in 2002. “Hopefully we’ll have a good launch and landing, and maybe even go farther than 1,400 feet.”

Hughes said his scheduled launch at the unopened Lake Dolores water park, along Interstate 15 between Barstow and Baker, was canceled because the park’s owners “found something underground.”

The park’s website said the launch had been canceled “due to major underground problems.” The Memorial Day rocket launch was billed as a sneak peak for the reopening of Lake Dolores in 2015.

Chris Jackiewicz, head of Oasis Theme Park, the group managing Lake Dolores, said he forwarded an interview request to the property manager. The manager has not responded to the request.

According to Hughes, the Arizona launch is scheduled for viewing at the Industry Hills Expo Center’s Grand Arena at 16200 Temple Ave., City of Industry.

“The Arizona site is closed to the general public, but people can watch it in L.A. or catch my launch during a live online, pay per-view broadcast,” Hughes said.

Hughes said he injured his ribs and lower body during his February launch after one of four parachutes failed to deploy and the rocket landed on its nose and flipped.

Hughes said all his launches have been inspired by Evel Knievel, who was also injured when he jumped the Snake River in 1974 in his Skycycle X-2.

“Getting hurt is part of the game,” Hughes said. “But there’s nothing like flying that rocket and breaking records.”

Hughes’ rocket launch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on June 28. Information on the online pay-per-view event or live screening in the City of Industry can be found online at www.onetwolive.com. More information on Hughes can be found online at www.madmikehughes.com.

Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227, RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com or on Twitter@renegadereports.